Typewriter desk



Sept. 19, 1935,

TYPEWRITER DESK Filed March 11, 1938 FIG.2

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

c. w. KOCH 2,173,302

\ G RENCE W. KOCH 4 Sept." 19, 1939. c. w. KOCH TYPEWRITER DESK FiledMarch 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. CLARENCE W. KOCH BY {6ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 19, 1939 UNITED SATES PTENT ()FFiCE Application March 11,

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a desk for supporting a typewriting machine andparticularly to the type of desk known as a pedestal desk in which themachine, when not in use, is concealed in a pedestal at one end of thedesk. In desks of this type it is usual to provide the opposite end ofthe desk with a second pedestal to contain supplies, the space betweenthe pedestals providing knee room for the typist when the machine is notin use.

One object of my invention is to provide efiective means for pivotallymounting the table upon which the machine is carried to swing fromhorizontal to vertical position on an axis extending in the direction ofthe length of the machine. As the height of the usual type of machine isless than the distance from its front to rear, this enables me to employa pedestal of less width than usual. I am thus enabled to substantiallydecrease the over-all length of the desk without restricting the spacefor the operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved form ofcarriage for moving the table into and out of the pedestal, as well asimproved means for locking said table against movement.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of desk made inaccordance with my invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of one endof the desk; Figure 2 is avertical section taken on the line 22 ofFigure 5; Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;Figure 4 is an end View of the carriage; Figure 5 is a top plan view,the desk top being removed; Figure 6 is a section taken on the line t-Eiof Figure 5; Figure 7 is an enlarged detail View of the table lookingmechanism; Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional views of the doorhinge; and Figure 10 is a detail view of supporting means for the outerend of the table.

The desk, as shown in Figure 1, is arranged to receive the machine inthe left-hand pedestal, which alone will be described. It comprises atop H and side walls l2 and I3, respectively, extending between frontlegs or posts M and rear legs or posts l5. A pedestal door 86 is pivotedto the left-hand post 55 by a pair of hinges, one of which is shown indetail in Figures 8 and 9. Each hinge consists of a bracket i'l set intothe inner face of the post and an L-shaped strap l8 pivoted to a pintle7 l9 carried by the bracket. The end of the strap is secured to theinner face of thedoor and the parts are so proportioned that when thedoor is open, as shown in Figures 1 and 8, the inner face of the door isflush with the inside face 1938, Serial No. 195,211

of the post and when the door is closed, as shown in Figure 9, the outerface of the door is either flush with the front face of the post or liesslightly behind it to produce a panel effect.

Carried on wall 12 is a rail 29 and on wall [3 a rail 2|. These railsare supported by any suit able means such as brackets 22 and form atrack upon which the table supporting carriage travels. This carriagecomprises an approximately rectangular frame 23 and a U-shaped member24. Carried on the left-hand end of frame 23 is a roller 25 engagingwith the upper edge of rail 28 and a roller 26 engaging with the loweredge thereof. To retain the rollers in contact with the rail, pins 2?and 28, respectively, engage the edge of the rail opposite the roller.At the right-hand end the frame is provided with a roller 29 engagingthe upper edge of rail 2! and opposed by pin 36. Extending between thesides of frame 23 and the arms of member 24 are a pair of trunnions 3!which are surrounded by the looped ends of straps 32 forming extensionsof a plate 33.

The table 34 to which the typewriting machine 35, shown in dotted linesin Figure 5, is rigidly secured by bolts or other means (not shown) isprovided with a narrow extension 36 secured to plate 33 by bolts 31. Thetable thus swings from horizontal to vertical position on the trunnions3|. It will be seen that the trunnions 3! are positioned a substantialdistance from the end of the carriage adjacent rail and consequently anextended line passing through their axes will lie a considerabledistance forward of the outer side of table 3e. Due to this arrangementthe portion of the table lying beyond this extended line will descendwhen the inner side of the table is raised to bring the typewriter intooperative position. This downward movement of the outer side of thetable is of importance in securing the proper movement of the stop plateengaging the door as hereinafter described. To permit the table to bemore easily raised, I provide a counterbalance spring 38, one end ofwhich is attached to a lug 39 on plate 33 and the other to a collar 4B.The collar is slidingly mounted on a rod M extending between member 24and the opposite end of frame 23. The left-hand end of rod M is threadedand'provided with a nut 42 by means of which collar 4G may be movedalong the rod to vary the tension of the spring to accommodate machinesof different weight.

To limit the outward movement of the table and its carriage, rail 28 isprovided with a stop 43 and the carriage with a cooperating stop 4 3formed by bending back a portion of the U-shaped member 24. A support isprovided for the forward end of the table by a stop plate 45 secured tothe table and engaging with an arcuate recess 45 in the door when thetable is in horizontal position. Secured to the door adjacent the recess46 is an L-shaped wear plate 41 to protect the wood of the door frommarring by contact with stop 45. This plate is provided with an inclinedface 48 adapted to engage stop 45 as it is swung down into the recessand draw stop 44 firmly against stop 45. This will rigidly lock thetable against longitudinal movement while it is in horizontal position.

To hold the table in horizontal position it is provided with the lockingdevice shown in detail in Figure 7. This device comprises a bracket 48and a lever 49 pivoted thereto at 55. The bracket is bifurcated toprovide a slot for the reception of an abutment 5| formed by bendingover the end of track 2|. The upper ends of the bifurcation are roundedor beveled as shown at 52 to guide the abutment into the slot. Lever 49has a lip 53 held in engagement with the upper edge of the abutment by aspring 54. The upper end of the lever is provided with an inclined face55 to engage the abutment as the table is swung upwardly and move thelever on its pivot to allow the lip to pass back of the abutment. Thelip may be released from the abutment by pressure on a finger piece 56.Pivoted to the end of frame 23 at 5'! is an arm 53 having a slot 59 forengagement with the abutment 5| to prevent longitudinal movement of thetable when it is lowered and hence lever 48 is disengaged from theabutment and stop 45 is moved out of recess 45. The forward end of arm58 has an inclined face 58 adapted to engage the upper edge of theabutment when the carriage is moved to its forward position and so raisethe arm to allow its slot to drop into engagement with the abutment.When the arm is out of engagement with the abutment, it is supported inposition by pin 38. The forward end of the arm is so positioned as to-beaccessible from the front of the desk when the table is in its extendedposition, as shown in Figure 1. Secured to the under face of the tableis a Z-shaped guide 65 (Figure 6) for engagement with a track 6! carriedon the wall 52 by brackets 52 and situated directly under track 29. Therelative position of the track and guide is such that the guide willengage the track as soon as the table begins its rearward movement intothe pedestal. This engagement prevents accidental upward swing of thetable during its movement into or out of the pedestal which might resultin injury to the machine mounted thereon.

The operation of my desk is, briefly, as follows: When the machine,together with its supporting table, is enclosed in the pedestal and itis desired to use the machine, the door is opened to the position shownin Figure 1. The forward end of the table is now grasped and drawnoutwardly until stop 44 engages stop 43. The lower edge of the table isnow grasped and swung upwardly until the table is in horizontalposition. During the latter part of this upward movement, the abutment5| will enter the slot in bracket 48, lever 49 being swung on its pivotby the action of the abutment on face 55, and at the end of the movementlip 53 will be drawn over the abutmentby tension of spring 54. This willlock the table in horizontal position. At the same time, stop 45 willenter recess 45 to provide an auxiliary support for the front of thetable and by its action on face 48 draw stop 44 more firmly against stop43 to form a rigid lock against longitudinal movement of the table. Toreturn the table and machine to concealed position, finger piece 56 isdepressed to withdraw lip 53 from abutment 5| which will release thetable so it may be lowered to the position shown in Figure 6. As,however, slot 59 in lever 58 is in engagement with the abutment, thetable cannot be accidentally forced into the pedestal during thislowering operation. At the completion of the lowering operation, lever58 is raised to disengage it from the abutment. The table may then bereturned to its initial position.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters l-atent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the class described, a desk provided with a pedestal,a carriage slidable in said pedestal, a table pivotally mounted on saidcarriage to swing from a horizontal to an approximately perpendicularposition on an axis parallel with the direction of travel of thecarriage, a door for said pedestal, said door being unconnected with thetable when the latter is in perpendicular position, and means carried bythe table forward of the carriage engaging with an abutment on the doorto support the table when the latter is in horizontal position.

2. In a device of the class described, a desk provided with a pedestal,a carriage slidable in said pedestal, a table pivotally mounted on saidcarriage to swing from horizontal to an approximately perpendicularposition on an axis parallel with the direction of travel of thecarriage, a door for said pedestal, said door being unconnected with thetable when the latter is in perpendicular position, a stop for limitingthe outward movement of the carriage, and means carried by the tableforward of the carriage engaging with an abutment on the door to supportthe table when the latter is in horizontal position, said means andabutment cooperating to exert a camming effect on the table to clamp thecarriage against said stop.

3. In a device of the class described, a desk provided with a pedestal,a track in said pedestal comprising a pair of rails positioned atopposite sides thereof, a carriage mounted on said track to travel fromthe front to the rear of the pedestal, a table pivotally mounted on saidcarriage adjacent one end thereof to swing from horizontal toapproximately vertical position, an abutment on the desk adjacent theother end of the carriage when the latter is in its forward position,locking means carried by the table engaging said abutment to hold thesame in raised position, and locking means mounted on the carriage andengaging said abutment to prevent movement of the carriage.

4. In a device of the class described, a desk provided with a pedestal,a track in said pedestal, a carriage mounted on said track to travelfrom the front to the rear of the pedestal, a trunnion carried by saidcarriage, said trunnion extending in the direction of travel of thecarriage and positioned a substantial distance from the outer end of thecarriage, a table pivoted on said trunnion whereby the outer side of thetable descends when the inner side is raised, a pedestal door, and meanscarried on the outer side of the table for engaging with an abutment onthe door to form a support for the table.

5. In a device of the class described, a desk provided with a pedestal,a track in said pedestal, 75,

a carriage mounted on said track to travel from the front to the rear ofthe pedestal, a trunnion carried by said carriage, said trunnionextending in the direction of travel of the carriage and positioned asubstantial distance from the outer end of the carriage, a table pivotedon said trunnion whereby the outer side of the table descends when theinner side is raised, a pedestal door, a shoulder on the outer side ofsaid table, and a Wear plate on the door cooperating with the shoulderto form a support for the outer end of the table.

6. In a device of the class described, a desk provided with a pedestal,a track in said pedestal, a carriage mounted on said track to travelfrom the front to the rear of the pedestal, a trunnion carried by saidcarriage, said trunnion extending in the direction of travel of thecarriage and positioned a substantial distance from the outer end of thecarriage, a table pivoted on said trunnion whereby the outer side of thetable descends when the inner side is raised, a stop for limiting theoutward movement of the carriage, a pedestal door, a shoulder on theouter side of the table, and a wear plate on the door cooperating withthe shoulder to form a table support, said plate being provided with aninclined face acting on the shoulder to exert a camming effect upon thetable to draw the carriage against its stop.

CLARENCE W. KOCH.

